X-ray machine



Nov. 6, 1934.. o. H. PIEPER 1,979,997r

X-RAY MACHINE Filed April 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 6, 1934.

O. H. PIEPER X-RAY MACHINE Filed April 4, 1932 4 `Sheets-Sheet 2O.H.MEPER X-RAY MACHINE Nov. 6, 1934.

Filed April 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 6, i934 STATES X-RAYMACHINE Oscar H., Pieper,

Rochester, N. Y.

Application April 4, i932, Serial No. 602,989

9 Claims.

My invention relates to X-ray tube nioun'tings and contemplatesimprovements which simplify the construction of the mounting, add to theconvenience and safety in handling the tube in operation, and increasethe reliability of the tube and transformer therefor in operation.

In my copending application Serial No. ot 65, led December 15, 1930, ofwhich the instant application is an improvement, l' disclose a mount- 10ing for X-ray tubes comprising a casing which is divided into twocompartments, the upper one of which is hermetically sealed and containsthe high tension transformer by which the tube is operated. Thiscompartment is lled with oil. The second and lower compartment containsthe tube which is mounted at its mid-section for rotation about itslongitudinal axis. The lead in wires by which certain connections aremade to the terminals of the tube itself are contained within 2o thissecond compartment. The casing is grounded and the tube may be usedwithout danger of the operator coming into contact with the high tensioncircuit.

The present invention provides a new mounting arrangement of the samegeneral type as disclosed in my above mentioned copending application.The sealed compartment in which the transformer is housed is madesmaller and of slightly different shape so that it more closely embracesthe transformer structure. Near the bottom of the casing are outwardlyextending flares or bosses of generally spherical conguration, and theterminals by which the electrical connections are led from thetransformer to the tube are located in close proximity to the center ofthese spherical bosses. By this arrangement the clearance between thecurrent carrying parts of the assembly and the grounded casingis ampleto insure that the current will not bridge the gap between the same, andat the same time the casing is compact in structure and of pleasingcontour.

.Located at the central portion of the lower compartment is a mountingbracket containing a saddle for receiving the central portion of thetube to mount the same for rotation about its longitudinal axis,Attached to the bracket are protective cylinders which surround the tubeand extend beyond the ends thereof. At the cathode end of the tube arheostat is mounted in this concentric cylinder, this rheostat carryingalso the spring brushes by which the cathode circuit is extended to thetube. The tube contains a ferrule of insulating material which carriescollector rings with which the brush springs make contact,

(ci. eso-s4.) y

and over which the springs slide as the tube is rotated.

The anode terminal of the tube comprises a post extending concentricallyfrom the end of the tube and upon which I have mounted an improved Bilradiator by which the heat of the anode is dissipated from the tube,This radiator is attached rigidly to the tube and turns with it, andcontains a contactor with which a connector is engaged. The connectorterminates a wire leading from the transformer and is arranged to remainstationary as the tube is rotated.

The tube compartment of the casing is closed by metallic .membersattached to the mounting bracket and to the casing member forming thetransformer compartment, these members being of substantially sphericalform adj acent the ends oi the tube to minimize the dimensions of thesame without unduly reducing the clearance between the current carryingportions of the tube and the casing.

Attached to the mounting collar of the tube is a focusing cone by whichthe rays emanating from the tube are directed to a particular location,this cone being rendered movable through go a wide areA by the mountingarrangement of the tube.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which a preferred embodiment of it is shown byway of 8example, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the completely assembled unit;

Figure 2 is an end view of the unit shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line `3 3 of Figure 2looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the arrangement ofthe parts within the unit;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through the unit taken substantiallyalong the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the tube mounting bracket;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional View through the end of thetube showing the details of construction of the radiator;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken substantially alongthe line 7-7 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows andshowing the arrangement for establishing connection with the cathode endof the tube; and

Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the circuit connectionsbetween the transformer and tube.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the unit comprises anupper casing member 1 having a mounting collar 2 located centrally ofits top surface. The casing is supported upon a suitable bracket bymeans engaging this mounting collar 2. The details of this mountingarrangement are not of the essence of the present invention and are morefully described in my above mentioned copending application. LocatedWithin the casing member 1 is a transformer' indicated generally at 3and comprising a core 4 and windings 5. The casing member 1 is shaped tosnugly t around the transformer 3.

The bottom face of the casing member 1 is open, and across it isdisposed an insulating plate 5 upon which the transformer is mounted byLll shaped mounting brackets 6 and 7 which lie against the laminations 4of the transformer and are held together at the upper side thereof by aU-shaped metallic clamp 8 which is fitted tightly over the same. Bolts 9clamp the bottom portions of the brackets 6 and 7 together and serve, assupports upon which the lower edge of the transformer core 4 rests. Bythis arrangement the laminations of the core are `tightly clamped sothat they will not vibrate and become noisy when the transformer isenergized.

Mounted in the plate 5 between the feet of the transformer mountingbrackets 6 and 7 are fluted insulating bushings l0 and 1l, each of whichis provided with a shoulder 12 engaging the lower surface of the plate.

plate. A nut 14 threaded upon the upper end of the bushing clamps thesame against the plate to form an oil tight joint therewith.

The plate 5 is securely held upon the casing 1 by bolts 15 with asuitable. washer 16 interposed therebetween to form an oil tight joint.

The bushings 10 and 11 contain terminal means similar to the terminalsdisclosed in my above mentioned copending application. The terminallocated within the bushing 16 is a single hollow metallic member 17having a shoulder 18 engaging the end wall of the lower recess in thebushing with a washer 19 interposed therebetween. A suitable nut 22 isthreaded upon the upper end ofl the terminal 17 within the recess 21 ofthe bushing and serves to clamp the terminal in the bushing. The washer19A serves to form an oil tight connection between the terminal andbushing. The nut 22r is slotted lat 20 to receive the spanner wrench bywhich the nut is tightened.

Terminal member 17 is hollow so that the oil contained in thetransformer chamber of the casing can ll and cool the terminal. VAnelectrical connection .'23 is suitably attached to the upper end of theterminal 17 and extends to the secondary winding 24 of the transformer.

It will be noted that the nut by which the terminal is clamped in thebushing is located Well within the bushing and that the upper end of theterminal is located at the approximate center of the arcuate portion 25of the casing member l.

The terminal contained in the bushing 11 is of vthe same generalconstruction except that the outer cylindrical member 26 carries aninsulator 27 within'which is located a second terminal member 28. Theinsulator is held in the member 26 by suitablev nuts 29 threadedion theends of that member. Terminal wires 30 and 31 extend from thetransformer winding 32 to the ter- A sealing washer .18 is interposed toform a tight seal against the minal members 26 and 28, respectively,being attached thereto in any preferred manner.

The tube is mounted in a generally U-shaped bracket 33, Figures 3, 4 and5, which is attached Vto the plate 5 by bolts 15. Located in the bracket8() 33 is an arcuate saddle 34 in which the tube casing rests and isheld by a clamp 35, Figure 4, attached thereto by screws 36. The bracket33 is slotted as at 37 to permit the focusing cone 38 of the tube tomove from the position in which it is shown in Figure 4 downwardly intoa substantially vertical position.

The tube contains a metallic collar 39 which engages the saddle member34 and clamp 35 and is held therein by springs 40 which serve to cush-V9() ion the tube. The edges of the metallic collar c 39 are flanged asat 41, Figure 3, to prevent lonattached.

As will be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the tube assembly comprises inaddition to the collar 39 an 100 insulating cup 42 and cylinder 43 whichare fitted into and suitably held in the opposite ends of the collar.Located within the cylinder thus formed is an insulating liner 44 andthe Cube 45, the anode terminal 46 of which projects through an open-105 ing 47 in the end of the cup member 42.

The opposite end of the tube 45 carries an insulating ferrule 48 whichis cemented thereto as shown at 49 and which lits snugly against theinsulator 44 to hold the same in place. A boss 50 110 projectingoutwardly from the surface of the ferrule 48 registers with a slot 5l inthe insulator 44 to prevent the same from turning with respect to thetube. As will be seen in Figure 4 the insulator 44 contains aperforation 52 adjacent the 115 focusing cone 38, and the tube issuitably located in the cylinder 43 so that the rays generated by it aredirected through this opening into the cone.

The tube is surrounded by insulating cylinders 54 and 55, which may besingle piece cylinders composed of a suitable insulating material suchas bakelite, or two-piece cylinders as shown. These cylinders aredisposed concentrically of the tube and extend beyond the ends thereof.Metal protective caps 54' and 55' are carried and suitably attached tothe ends of the cylinders 54 and 55 respectively. These caps arepreferably formed of sheet copper shaped in the manner best shown inFigure 6, and serve to prevent flash-over between the current carryingparts of the tube and the grounded casing in which the tube is housed.

Located upon the ferrule 48 is a metallic ring 56 and a metallic disc 57concentrically located g5 within it. Both the ring and disc arepreferably brass or bronze and are located concentrically of theferrule.

The cylinder 55 carries a rheostat assembly 58 upon the front or outerside of which are rheol stat instrumentalities indicated generally at59. The rheostat is mounted by suitable means, such as screws 58 whichproject through one or both of the members comprising the cylinder 55.On the back side of the rheostat assembly are springs I 60 and 61,Figure 7, which engage the disc 57 and ring 56, respectively, of thetube to establish an electrical connection therewith. A centrallylocated bushing 59' extends through the base of the assembly 58. Thisbushing is drilled and tapped. i5@

The contact arm of the rheostat is attached to one end of the bushing bya suitable screw. A wire is attached to the opposite end or the bushingby a suitable screw and to the contact spring 60. The rheostat arm isthus electrically connected to the contact spring. Suitable wires 62extend from the rheostat through the opening 62 in the same to theterminal members 26 and 28 to extend a circuit from the spring 60 and 61to the transformer winding 32.

A post 63 projects from the front or outer face of the rheostat 58 andon this is mounted a metallic cup-shaped member 64 which serves as acover for the rheostat mechanism. This cover is preferably a sheet metalpunching and extends into close proximity to but does not touch theinner wall of the cylinder 55. This cover serves to partially close theend of the cylinder and aids in preventing discharges between thecurrent carrying parts of the rheostat and the grounded metallic casing.

As will be best seen in Figure 6, the anode terminal 46 of the tube isequipped with a radiator indicated generally at and preferably comprisesa metallic ferrule 71 which embraces the terminal member 46 and isflanged as at 72 on the outer edge of its closed end. A plurality ofmetallic discs 73, preferably copper, are disposed over the ferrule andspaced apart therealong by metallic spacing rings 74. The outer edges ofthe disc 73 are turned over to form a bead 75 which is preferably ofgenerally circular section.

Adjacent the tube end of the ferrule is a smaller disc 76 which is notbeaded. A washer 77 bears against this disc and a collared nut 78 isthreaded upon the ferrule and bears against the Washer to thereby clampthe assembly tightly together. The washer 77 and nut 78 together form agroove in which the terminal 79 is disposed.

This terminal 79 comprises a ring disposed in the groove and split topermit its faces to bear against the side walls of the groove. Asuitable wire receiving means 80 is formed integral with the ring andadapted to receive the wire 81 by which the anode is connected to theterminal 17. The wire may be clamped by the receiving means 80 orotherwise suitably attached thereto.

Insulating washers 82 and 83 surround the anode terminal 46 of the tubeand .a metallic washer 84 bears against the washer 83. Preferably thewasher 84 is cupped at its central portion to thereby locate the anodeterminal 46 concentrically in the opening 47 in the insulating cup 42. Ascrew 85 projects through the end of the ferrule 7l and is threadedint-o the anode terminal 46 to draw the radiator assembly tightly in thecup 42. A pin 86 located in the ferrule projects into an opening 87 inthe anode terminal and prevents turning of the ferrule and radiatorassembly with respect to the anode terminal.

As will be seen in Figure 3, the insulating cylinder 54 which surroundsthe tube is slotted at 88 so that it may be passed over the terminalwire 81.

Preferably the terminal Wire 81 is a flexible heavy copper wire, which,in addition to serving as an electrical connection for the anode, servesalso to conduct heat from the radiator to the terminal 17, from which itis carried and dissipated by the oil in the transformer compartment ofthe casing. The wire 81 is made flexible to compensate for anyeccentricity which may occur in the mounting of the tube anode 46.

The tube compartment is closed by metallic members 90 and 91 which aregenerally cylindrical in shape and provided with generally sphericalends 92 adjacent the ends of the tube. These members engage the flangedrings 93 of the mounting bracket 33 and are held thereagainst bysuitable screws 94.

As will be seen in Figure 8, the cathode of the tube 45 is connectedthrough the ring 56 and disc 57 and springs 60 and 61, 'through therheostat 58 and wires 62 to the secondary winding 32 of the transformer.One terminal of this winding 32 is connected to the end of the secondarywinding of the transformer, the opposite end of which winding isconnected through a suitable milliammeter 101 to ground at 102. Theanode of the tube is connected through a connector 80 and Wire 81 to oneterminal of' the winding 24 of the transformer, the opposite end ofwhich winding is grounded at 182. By this arrangement the opposite endsof the tube 45 are at the same potential with respect to ground, sincethe voltage induced in windings 24 and 100 of the transformer is thesame.

One terminal of the primary winding 103 of the transformer is connectedto one terminal of the alternator 104, and the opposite terminal of thewinding 103 is connected through a suitable resistance 105 to thevariable reactance 106 connected to the opposite terminal of thealternator. A second reactance 107 is connected to the first vterminalof the alternator and to the reactance 106, forming with it a potentialdivider or auto transformer by which the voltage impressed upon theprimary winding 103 is varied. The milliammeter 101, rheostat 105,transformer and alternator are mounted externally of the casing 1 andform no essential part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. 1n an X-ray machine, a casing containing two compartments one ofwhich is hermetically sealed., a transformer mounted in said sealedcompartment, a tube mounted in the other compartment and rotatable aboutits own axis, a

stationary cylinder surrounding said tube, a

rheostat mounted in said cylinder adjacent the end of said tube,collector means on the end of said tube, a pair of leaf springs attachedto the tube side of said rheostat and engaging said collector means, anelectrical connection extending from said springs through said rheostatto said transformer, and an electrical connection from the other end ofsaid tube to the transformer.

2. In an X-ray machine, a mounting saddle, a tube embraced at itsmid-section by said saddle, means for holding said tube on said saddle,an insulating cylinder mounted on said saddle concentrically of saidtube, a rheostat mounted within said cylinder adjacent the end of saidtube, a ferrule on said tube, a disc and an annulus concentricallymounted on said ferrule, and a pair of leaf springs mounted on saidrheostat and engaging said disc and annulus, re-

spectively, to thereby establish electrical connections between therheostat and the tube.

3. In an X-ray machine, a mounting saddle, a tube embraced at itsmid-portion by said saddle and mounted therein for rotation about itslongitudinal axis, means for holding said tube on I tube, leaf springsmounted on the tube side of said rheostat. and engaging said collectormeans and wiping over the same .as the tube is rotated to therebyestablish electrical connections with the tube, and a metallic cupmounted on said rheostat but insulated therefrom and extending thereoverto form a shieldfor the rheostat.

4. In an X-ray machine, a tubemounted for rotation about its axis,kanode terminal means projecting' from one end of said tube, cathodeterminal means projecting :from the-opposite end of the tube, cylindersof insulating material disposed concentrically around said tube and eX-tendmg beyond said terminal means, a grounded metallic casingsurrounding said tube and cylinders, and metallic rings disposed on thefree ends of said cylinders in spaced and substantially lconcentricrelation to the end portions of said lcasing for preventing flash-overbetween said terminal means and said casing.

5. In an X-ray machine, a tube mounted for rotating about its axis,anode terminal means projecting from one end of said tube, cathodeterminal means projecting from the opposite end of the tube, cylindersof insulating material disposed concentrically around said tube and eX-tending beyond said terminal means, a grounded metallic casingsurrounding said tube and cylinders and extending about the outer endportions of the latter substantially coneentrically therewith, andmetallic rings disposed on the free ends of said cylinders and insulatedfrom said terminal means and casing for preventing flash-overtherebetween.

6. In an X-ray machine, atube mounted for rotation about its axis, ananode terminal projecting concentrically from the end oi' the tube,

a radiator on said terminal, said radiator comprising a ferruleembracing and secured to the terminal anda plurality of nns spaced onthe ierrule and held thereon by a nut and washer ing the walls thereof,andmeansformedintegral with said ring and extending therebeyond forclamping a wire by'whic'han electrical connection is extended to said.anode terminal. f

7. In an X-ray machine, a tubeY mounted for rotation on its :axisfananode, terminal projecting concentrically from the end of the tube, aradiator comprising a Aferrule Yiitting upon and secured to saidterminal concentrically therewith, a member on said .ferrule adjacentthe inner lend thereof and .held against outward movement therealong, ashouldered nut secured upon the inner end of the ferrule with itsshoulder in contact with said member and dening therewith a groove offixed and predetermined width extending about the ferrule conoentricallytherewith, and a terminal connecting vmember extending into thegrooveand having wiping contact with the side walls'thereof whilepermitting turning of the ferrule with the tube and relative to `saidconnecting member.

' 8. In an X-ray machine, a metallic casing, an X-ray tube mountedwithin said casing, cylinders of insulating material extending aroundand beyond the ends of the tube conoentrical'ly therewith, said casinghaving end portions of spherical curvature enclosing the outer endportions of said cylinders and extending coneentrically therearound, andmetallic rings secured upon the outer ends of said cylinders inconcentric spaced rec lation to said surrounding end portions of saidcasing.

9. In an X-ray machine, a metallic casing, an X-ray tube mounted withinsaid casing, cylinders of insulating material extending around andbeyond the ends of the tube concentrically7 therewith, said casinghaving end portions of spherical curvature enclosing the outer endportions of said cylinders and extending concentrically therearound, andmetallic rings of substantially circular cross-section fitting upon theouter ends oi said cylinders.

OSCAR I-I. PIEPER.

